This document discusses key factors to consider when choosing a reference manager. It outlines features like search, share, store, read, write, and use that are important to evaluate. Reference managers can import references from databases, bookmarklets, directly from web pages. They allow sharing references between computers and users. Consider platform compatibility, file formats, organization options, and citation style support when selecting a reference manager. Evaluate costs, interfaces, and support to determine the best fit.

1. What is the right
reference
manager for you?
Martin Fenner

2. Reference managers
essential for reading
and writing scholarly

3. But which one?

4. features to look for
when evaluating a
reference manager

5. Search
search online bibliographic
databases

6. Direct search
Search
from reference
Database Bookmarklet Import
PubMed databases RIS
Google Scholar journal pages Endnote
Web of Science other web pages BibTex
Scopus
Direct import
from web page

7. Share
share references between
different computers and/
or users

8. Share essential to
write paper as
WWW Sync Share
full online version of with online version private groups
reference manager? between computers public groups
Is there an API? PDF files
for
intergration
with other

9. Store
store scholarly references
on your computer

10. Store
Platform Format Organisation
Windows journal articles in groups
Linux book chapters by date
Macintosh meeting abstracts by author
iPhone blog posts, etc. by keyword

11. Read
import, read and search
fulltext PDF files of
references

12. should be
automated to
allow import of
many PDF files
Read
Import Search Read
extract metadata fulltext search integrated viewer
match with online of all references annotation
database follow discussion
Link to
citing papers,
Researchbloggin
g.org,

13. Write
insert citations into
manuscript and create
bibliography

14. Write
Platform Architecture Citation style
Windows plugin or copy/paste? available styles
Linux document shareable? user-editable?
Macintosh
Do coauthors
have to use the
same reference

15. Use
use regularly to read and
write scholarly papers

16. most important:
Use
which reference
manager do your
Cost User interface Support
free to use easy to learn and use handbook / help pages
personal license fast routine tasks support forums
institutional license pleasant user direct customer support
experience bug fixes and updates

17. Questions you should
ask after your evaluation
Is there one best reference manager
for everybody?
Is there one best reference manager
for your particular requirements?
Do you need more than one
reference manager to satisfy all your